Jack Brennan’s death on the September 1 episode of General Hospital signals the end of Chris McKenna’s tenure on the ABC soap, Celebdirtylaundry reports.
- September 2, 2026
AceShowbiz - Jack Brennan’s death on the September 1 episode of General Hospital signals the end of Chris McKenna’s tenure on the ABC soap, Celebdirtylaundry reports. McKenna filmed his final scenes as Jack in June 2025, months before the character’s demise was broadcast.
Tvinsider also detailed that Jack Brennan’s body was discovered in the Metro Court pool by Charlotte Cassadine and Danny Morgan, following Ava Jerome’s attempt to cover up her involvement. McKenna had stepped into the role in February 2025 after Charles Mesure’s unexpected departure, Soapoperadigest confirms. Both outlets noted that McKenna and co-star Jacinda Bracken learned of their exits on the same day. McKenna described his final work as playing a lifeless body floating for two days of filming. He received a warm farewell from cast and crew, including a bourbon gift from executive producer Frank Valentini.
Chris McKenna is known for his previous soap roles as Joey Buchanan on One Life to Live and Mark Harding on The Young and the Restless. His portrayal of Jack Brennan aimed to bring complexity to the character, but McKenna expressed mixed feelings about the outcome, per Celebdirtylaundry. He was disappointed that Jack missed out on a planned love triangle involving Carly Spencer and Anna Devane, as the show instead paired Carly with Valentin Cassadine. Additionally, McKenna felt sidelined during key storylines after the introduction of John Oliver’s character Z. Despite this, he enjoyed working alongside Oliver and valued the opportunity to connect with new fans.
The storyline following Jack’s death will focus on Ava Jerome and Drew Cain’s efforts to dispose of his body, with further investigations revealing suspicious activity in Jack’s hotel room, Michaelfairmantv reports. McKenna expressed hope that the murder mystery would engage viewers and hinted that the character Willow might be involved.
Although saddened by his character’s fate, McKenna viewed his time on General Hospital as rewarding and plans to continue his career with upcoming projects, including adapting horror author Thomas Tessier’s works and teaching acting classes. His departure closes a chapter on Jack Brennan’s turbulent run but sets the stage for new twists in the long-running drama’s evolving saga.
This article is based on reporting originally published by Celebdirtylaundry.
